DORA HAGAMAN
Q: How would you describe yourself as an artist?
A: Meticulously optimistic with plant focus

Q: Who has been your strongest inspiration and how do you think those people reflect in your work?
A: Monet’s work is completely different from my style but the study of plants and landscape scenery are a huge inspiration to me as well as Katie Bryant who is a contemporary artist that also focuses on botanicals. My favorite thing is to look at the plants around me. I currently have 32 houseplants as well as a starting mini garden that continues to inspire me to capture all that nature has to offer with my art.

Q: Walk us through your process of creating your art?
A: When I’m creating my art I start by looking around me I am surrounded by plants and nature and they can look differently at any time with the sun in the dark sometimes I start with a sketch other times I just paint the best way is to start because with paint you can always cover up any mistakes later so just create.

Q: Is there anything you want people to know about you as an artist?
A: I want people to know that I care. I want to share my art with people and show that I genuinely care about the time and the effort I’m putting into the work. Nature is a feeble thing that continues to change for the better or the worse, I care enough to try and capture it before I can’t anymore.

KAITLYN TAYLOR
Q: How would you describe yourself as an artist?
A: I think I could describe myself as ambitious and a little stubborn when it comes to my work. I have a habit of spilling all of my ideas into a single piece and I obsess over little details. I tend to nitpick my work but when it comes out the way I wanted it ends up being worth the extra effort.

Q: Who has been your strongest inspiration and how do you think those people reflect in your work?
A: My strongest inspirations have been my professors. They have always pushed me to focus on the intention behind my concepts and materials. My parents have also inspired me, instilling a motivation that has driven me to where I am now.

Q: Walk us through your process of creating your art?
A: First I like to write down all of my ideas for a piece, focusing on the intent behind everything. Then I like to sketch some mockups so I have a visual of what I intend to make. Printmaking is often physically and emotionally taxing so I try my best to balance working with resting but it doesn’t always work out that way.

Q: Is there anything you want people to know about you as an artist?
A: I’ve worked really hard to get where I am and I will continue to push myself to get to where I want to be. I wouldn’t be where I am if I hadn’t trusted my intuition and I truly believe in trusting the process when creating.

Q: Additional thoughts?
A: I really want to thank the two printmaking professors at Appalachian state, April Flanders and Joshua Winkler. They’ve helped me develop a passion for printmaking and have given me an immense amount of support during my time here.